Field Exercise No.

1
DISTANCE by PACING and by TAPING

I. Background

PACING
Without any measuring instrument, one can obtain a good estimate of an unknown distance by
using one’s pace factor. The use of one’s pace factor to estimate distances without the aid of any
measuring instrument can provide satisfactory measurements when doing a reconnaissance
survey of an area where distances need to be verified.

TAPING
One of the basic direct distance-measuring devices is the graduated tape. When measuring on
level ground using the tape, one needs to lay down the tape on the ground and make sure it is taut
and straight.

a. RANGING
There are rules to follow when measuring very long distances especially on the count of
the full tape lengths. The term one pin is being used here to indicate one full tape length
and when the surveyor has already measured 10 pins, this is then equivalent to one tally.
Hence, one tally is equivalent to 10 full tape lengths.
b. BREAKING THE TAPE
In some situation, the distance to be measured is on sloping ground. There are several
ways to obtain the unknown horizontal distance; one method is by “breaking tape”. As
the term implies, two members of the group along the sloping ground hold the tape
horizontally segment-by-segment.
c. SLOPE DISTANCE and VERTICAL ANGLE
Another method is with the use of the slope distance and the vertical angle obtained using
a clinometer. A clinometer is a hand held instrument in getting vertical angles. The
horizontal distance can be obtained by simply multiplying the slope distance by the
cosine of the vertical angle.

II. Objectives

The following are the objectives of the study:

1. To be able to determine one’s pace factor.

2. To be able to determine an unknown distance using the pace factor.
3. To be familiar with the use of the steel tape.
4. To be able to measure an unknown distance on level ground with the use of the steel tape.
5. To be able measure the unknown distance over an uneven ground using the Breaking-
tape and slope distance-vertical angle of slope methods
III. Instruments

• 25-m graduated tape - 1 unit

• 50-m graduated tape - 1 unit
• Range poles - 2 units
• Marking pins - 1 set
• Plumb bob - 1 set
• Clinometer - 1 set
• Graduated rods - 2 units
• Chalk

IV. Survey Site

• Field in front of Henry Sy Hall (Activity A)

• Henry Sy Hall Lobby (Activity B)
• Miguel/Velasco Hall Staircase (Activity C)

V. Procedure

Activity A

This activity is divided into two parts: (a) determining one’s pace factor, and (b) estimating an
unknown distance using the pace factor.

a. Determining One’s Pace Factor

1. Choose a stretch of level ground that is free of obstacles.
2. Select a point on the ground and mark it as point A. Place a range pole on it.
3. With the 0-mark placed at point A, lay down a 50-meter distance with the use of the
graduated tape.
4. At the 50-meter mark on the other end of the distance, mark this as point B and also place
the second range pole on it.
5. The group leader then gathers the members at point A and instructs the group how to go
about the exercise. The following should be observed to have an orderly exercise
• All members of the group should walk from A to B on the left side of the tape and should
walk on the right side of the tape from B to A. Hence, the group moves in a clockwise
direction walking back and forth along the tape. This is to avoid walking onto the other’s
path that would great affect one’s pace factor estimate.
• No two or more members should walk side by side or simultaneously, since one’s pace
factor would be influenced by the other thereby not getting a good estimate of one’s pace
factor.
• Don’t shout out loud when counting one’s pace factor. This might affect the counting of
the other group members in your vicinity.
• When your pace is a bit faster that the person in front of you, provide some distance
between you and that person.
• Don’t stop at the end of the line when getting an estimate of the fractional-meter length of
your pace, others walking behind might bump you. Just get a rough estimate of this
fractional-meter length as you walk pass the end point.
 • Anyone horsing around and disturbing the conduct of the exercise would be reprimanded
accordingly.
6. Hence, each member of the group paces the distance from point A to point B (from point
B to point A), walking on a normal pace, and at the same time counting the steps he/she
makes as he/she progresses.
7. Each trial represents distance from A to B (or from B to A). The student should record the
total number of paces at the end of each trial. Each paced distance may be taken as the
distance from tip to tip, or from heel to heel (of one’s shoes). The last step may be
estimated by eye to the nearest tenth of his/her normal pace.
8. The number of trials for this exercise would be 10, which would mean the student has
walked five times from point A to point B as well as from point B to point A.

Pace Factor = Distance Paced / (Average no. of Paces) (Equation 1)

b. Estimating an Unknown Distance by Pacing

1. An unknown distance will be designated by the instructor for the students to measure
using their own pace factor. The unknown distance will be designated as distance CD and
a range pole is placed on each end point.
2. Each student then paces the unknown distance and counts the total number of steps it
would take him to cover the entire distance. The student should walk along a straight path
for a more accurate measurement.
3. The student should perform two trials to obtain this unknown distance CD. That means
one trial from point C to point D and another trial from point D to point C. The obtained
trial results should be more or less be equal. If a large discrepancy exists, a third
measurement should be performed to serve as a check.

Computed Distance = No. of Paces x Pace Factor (Equation 2)

Activity B

1. Using the unknown distance CD from Activity A-b, two members of the group are
assigned as polemen/flagman. One will be at point C, and the other at point D. Their
main responsibility is to see to it that the tape, which is being laid down, during the
process of measurement, is straight.
2. Two members of the group are assigned as tapemen. One will be the rear tapeman, and
the other, the head tapeman. Their main function is to lay down the steel tape properly.
3. The rear tapeman holds the last meter-mark of the tape, and then positions himself at the
starting point C (or D).
4. The head tapeman then proceeds towards the other end point, carrying the 10 marking
pins with him.
5. When the head tapeman has used the full length of the tape, he/she stops and transfers the
last tape mark on the ground.
6. The rear and head tapemen then face each other in a kneeling position and align the tape
to the two end range-poles, the polemen may help, in the process. The tape should be
held steadily and pulled properly. Once the tape is aligned, the head tapeman, then, places
a marking pin on the point of the last meter-mark of the tape. He then signals to the rear
tapeman to release the tape. The head tapeman walks forward to repeat the entire process.
 7. The rear tapeman should pick up the marking pin before him/her at the end of each
measurement. The number of marking pins in the rear tapeman’s possession is a record of
the number of tape-lengths measured from the starting point to the last pin on the ground.
Upon reaching the end point, the head tapeman positions the zero mark of the tape, with
the end point of the distance.
8. The rear tapeman pulls the tape and observes the part of the tape which coincides with the
last marking pin. The reading is then recorded.
9. The process is repeated, this time, using the end point D (or C) as the starting point. If a
large discrepancy between trials 1 and 2 is observed, a third trial should be made to serve
as a check.

Activity C

This activity is divided into two parts: (a) Breaking-Tape Method, and (b) Slope Distance and
Vertical Angle of Slope Method

a. Breaking-Tape Method (Fig. 1)

This method is used when measuring horizontal distances having a sloping surface, with the tape
held horizontal.
1. Mark the highest and the lowest points of the unknown distance being measured as points
A and B, respectively, with the use of graduated rods.
2. Begin the measurement at the point of highest elevation, point A.
3. The rear tapeman holds the tape on or as near to the ground as possible.
4. The head tapeman walks down the slope, at the same time, making sure, that the tape is
horizontal. When the tape reaches the level of his breast, he stops, and aligns himself with
the range poles.
5. The head tapeman plumbs this point to the ground (using the plumb bob), and reads the
measurement. He records the reading, and places a marking pin (marked with a chalk) on
this point.
6. The rear tapeman proceeds to this point (in no. 5), and holds the end of the tape on it.
7. Repeat the steps 4 to 6 until the entire distance has been covered, or until point B has
been reached.

D1 A

D2

D3

B Figure 1. The Breaking-Tape Method

The horizontal distance from A to B = D1 + D2 + D3 (Equation 3)

b. Slope Distance and Vertical Angle of Slope Method (Fig. 2)
1. Begin by getting the line of sight of the clinometer. This is done by getting the graduated
rod 5 meters away from the clinometer, on a level surface. By looking through the
clinometer, get the reading on the graduated rod where the bubble in the clinometer is
centered, and the reading on the clinometer is 0 degrees. Mark the point on the graduated
rod where the clinometer has a zero reading. The mark on the graduated rod is the line of
sight.
2. Measure the total length of the slope at the top where the rear tapeman is located, and at
the lower level, where the head tapeman is located, in which, both ends of the tape are
held on the ground.
3. Get and record the measured length of the slope.
4. Place the level rod on top of the slope, while the reader with the clinometer at the bottom
of the slope.
5. Through the clinometer, locate the line of sight, or marked point, and adjust the bubble in
the clinometer, until it is centered.
6. Read the number of degrees in the clinometer, this is the degree of inclination of the
slope.
7. The horizontal distance of the sloping ground can be calculated by using the following
equation.

AC = AB x cos  (Equation 4)

A


AC

Figure 2. Slope Distance and Vertical Angle of Slope Method

 Field Exercise No. 1
DISTANCE by PACING and by TAPING

Group No: ______________ Date of Field Exercise: ___________

Group Leader: ______________ Date Submitted: ____________
Members: ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________

I. DATA AND RESULTS

ACTIVITY A
Trial Number of Paces
Directions
No. Member1 Member2 Member3 Member4 Member5
1 A-B
2 B-A
3 A-B
4 B-A
5 A-B
6 B-A
7 A-B
8 B-A
9 A-B
10 B-A
Average No of Paces

ACTIVITY A and B
Trial No of Paces Length
Directions
No. Member1 Member2 Member3 Member4 Member5 by Tape (m)
1 C-D
2 D-C
Average
1 D-E
2 E-D
Average

ACTIVITY C
a. Breaking-Tape Method
Segment Distance (meters)
D1
D2
D3
Total

b. Slope Distance and Vertical Angle of Slope Method

Slope Distance (meters)

Clinometer Reading (degrees)